Sound-producing device



June 8 1926. 1,588,356

L. J. GRUBMAN SOUND PRODUCING DEVICE Filed August 7 1923 I I INVENTOR 60 .1 firwmaig ATTO NEY name juice, was. a I

UNITED STATES 1,588,356 PATENT OFFICE.

LEO J. ommm, OF NEW Y OBI, H. Y.,, ASSIGN OB T0 VOIbES, INOOBPOM'IID, OI

miwanx, new JERSEY, a oonronarron or nmwm.

eom-raonocmc nance.

Application filed Augult 7, 192;. Serial No. 858,188.

This invention relates to sound producing devices and more particularly to a device of that type which is incorporated within the body of a doll for the purpose of simulating an infant cry such as the exclamation ma-ma.

It is the primary object and purpose of my present improvements to materially simphfy the construction, insure the efiicient and reliable operation and make possible the easy and rapid assemblage of the several co-operating parts of a sound produc ing device of this character.

Heretofore it has been proposed to pro vide such devices with a fixed axially positioned sound emitting tube'extending between theheads of a casing or housin enclosing a bellows having an air ex e ling head movable by gravity along sai tube. A sound producing reed was mounted within the tube, the wall of which was provided with openings affording communication between the tube and the air chamber of the bellows and one end of the casing or housing exteriorly of the bellows head. By means of my new construction, I provide a more compact arrangement of the several parts, and in one proposed embodiment of my present improvement, the movable bellows head is formed with a sound receiving chamber which receives the sound from a reed carried by said head and through which the air is expelled. One end of the tubular guide post for the head opens through one end of the casing or housin and said guide post and the bellows hea are rovided with co-operating means controllmg the emission of the sound from said chamber through the open end of the tube and thereby affecting a realistic simulation of the artlculation of the syllables of the spoken word.

It is another objectof my present improvements to provide simple and easily applied means for connecting one endof the flexible collapsible bellows wall with the movable air expelling head, said means also constituting a closure over one side of the sound receiving chamber formed' in said head.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved sound controlling devices and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In thedrawing wherein I have shown one simple and practical embodiment of my present im rovements and in which similar reference 0 aracters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the device, the bellows being inflated and the air expelling head posltioned at the start of its operating movement;

Fi re 2 1s a similar View showing the position of the bellows head at the end of its operating movement;

I Figure 3 is an end elevation; and

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In the embodiment of the device which i I have selected for purposes of illustration, the several operating parts are completely enclosed within an exterior casing or housing 5. In the present instance, the body wall of this housing which may be convemently formed from heavy cardboard is open at its opposite ends and is preferably, though not necessarily, of cylindrical form. One end of this casing or housing is closed by a head 6 preferably of sheet metal having a U-shaped marginal rim 7 for frictional clamping engagement over one end edge of the casing wall 5. This head 6 is centrally formed with an o ening 8 in which the open end of the tu ular post 9 is permanently secured in any approved manner. This post 9 has its other end closed by a suitable plug 10 and seated in a cavity or depression 12 centrally formed in the other casing head 11. This latter casing head is likewise formed with a U- shaped marginal rim 13 adapted to receive and frictionally hold one circumferential end edge of the flexible bellows wall 14 in tight clamping engagement around the other end edge of the casing wall 5. This particular means for securing one end of the flexible bellows wall in fixed relation to" the outer casing, is not herein claimed since it constitutes the subject matter of my Patent No. 1,507,826, issued September 9, 1924.

The other end of the bellows is closed by means of a'relatively heavy air expelling head 15 which is loosely engaged upon the tubular post 9 for gravity movement therealong, This head is formed with a soundrecelvin chamber 16 which is open at the outer si e of said head, the chamber wall bein diametrically enlarged or formed with a. re bet 17 The other circumferential end portion of the flexible bellows wall 14 is extended over theouter side of the movable head 15 and engaged upon the rabbet 17 upon which it is tightly clamped and frictionally held by the plate or disc 18 which has slldin engagement with the tubular post 9 an also serves as a closure for the open side of the sound receiving chamber 16.

A sound producing reed 19 of conventional form is mounted in the inner side wall of the head 15 and through this reed the air is expelled from the bellows chamber 20 in the gravity movement of the head 15 in one direction along the tube 9 and thereby converted into sound which issues from the reed into the chamber 16. Preferably, the reed is mounted in a gasket 21 of compressible material which effectually prevents the passage of air from the chamber 20 into the chamber 16 except through the sound producing reed.

The wall of the tubular post 9 adjacent the open end thereof is provided with one or more sound emission apertures 22 and inwardly thereof with an additional sound emission aperture or apertures 23, the latter being of greater lengthwise dimension than the aperture or apertures 22. The wall of the head 15 immediately surrounding the post 9 is formed upon opposite sides thereof with the tubular bosses or extensions 24 and 25, respectively, which serve to prevent lateral tilting of the bellows head upon said post, while the boss 24 also coacts with the apertures 22 and 23 in the wall of said boss to control the emission of sound from the chamber 16 during the air expelling movement of said head.

In the operation of the device as above described, assuming that the bellows is fully inflated and the head 15 disposed in the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, as this head moves downwardly on the tubular post 9 by gravity, the air expelled from chamber 20 and converted into sound by the reed 19 first passes in relatively small volume through chamber 16 between the wall of the boss or extension 24 and the wall of the post 9 through the aperture 22 and is emitted from the open end of said tubular post. This first emitted sound is of a nasal character and simulates the sound of the spoken letter In. As the head continues its downward movement and the boss or extension 24 uncovers the aperture 22, sound issues in greater volume from the chamber 16 through said aperture and simulates the spoken pronuciation of the vowel letter a. When the boss 24 moves below the aperture 22, sound again issues in reduced volume between the wall of said boss and the wall of the post 9 direction and the flexible bellows wall is distended, said bellows becomes inflated and the chamber 20 again filled with air which enters said chamber through the apertures 22 and 23, the chamber 16 and the reed 19, thus placing the device in condition to be again operated in the manner above explained.

It will be seen that in this construction, the bellows when fully inflated extends over substantially the entire length of the casing 5, and by providing the bellows head itself with a sound receiving chamber instead of arranging this chamber exteriorly of the bellows head I am enabled to position the several parts within a casing or housing of comparatively short length. It will also be appreciated that by attaching the flexible bellows Wall to the air expelling head by means of the closure plate over the outer side of the sound receiving chamber, the number of necessary parts is reduced to a minimum and easy and expeditious assembluge thereof made possible. Further, it will be manifest that the sound producing device so constructed and intended for use in dolls and similar toys which are frequently subjected to abusive handling, is not liable to get out of order. The positive and reliable functioning of the device under all conditions of use is, therefore, assured.

I have herein disclosed a simple and practical embodiment of my present improvements which is thought to be especially desirable in devices of this character. Nevertheless, it is possible that the essential and novel features of the, invention might be embodied in other alternative constructions and I accordingly reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes in the form, proportion and relative arrangement of the several parts as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a sound producing device, a bellows having a flexible tubular body wall fixed at one of its ends, a gravity movable air compressing and ex elling member with which one end of said tubular wall is engaged, an element associated with said expelling member and having means engaged with the other end edge of the flexible bellows wall to frictionally hold said wall and the element in connection with said member,

'said element and the air expelling member providing a sound receiving chamber, a'

' sound producer operated by air ex elled from the bellows in the movement 0 said gravity movable member, and means for emitting the sound from said sound receiving chamber.

2, In a sound producing device, a bellows comprising a flexible tubular body wall having a fixed head at one of its ends and a gravit movable head at its other end, one of sai heads being provided with a sound receiving chamber, said closure and head having cooperating means to frictionall-y clamp one end of the tubular wall to said head and also frictionally hold said closure in fixed relation to said head, a sound producer operated by air expelled from .the bellows chamber in the gravity movement of the movable bellows head in one direction, and means ,for emitting the sound from said sound receiving chamber.

3. In a sound producing device, a bellows having a flexible body wall, a movable head for expelling air from the bellows chamber,

- said head provided with a sound receiving chamber and carrying sound producing means through which the air is expelled into said chamber, a closure for one side of said sound receiving chamber having frictional clamping engagement with the flexible bellows wall to connect the same with said movable head, and means for controlling the emission of sound from said sound receiving chamber in the air expelling movement of the bellows head.

4. In a sound producing device, a casing, heads closing the opposite ends of said casing, a bellows enclosed within said casing having a flexible body wall fixed at one of its ends to the casing wall, a tubular guide post axially positioned between the casing heads, a gravity movable air expelling head guided by said post and having a sound receiving chamber opening upon one side of the head, a closure for said chamber having frictional clamping engagement with the other end of the flexible hollows wall and connecting the same to said head, sound producing means carried by said head through which the air is expelled to said chamber, the wall of said tubular guide post being provided with sound emission apertures and said head having a part to coact with said apertures in the air expelling movement of the head and controlling the emission of sound from said chamber.

5. In a sound producing device, a casing, heads closing the opposite ends of said casing, a bellows enclosed within said casing and having a flexible body Wall fixed at one of its ends to the casing wall, a tubular guide post axially positioned in said casing and opening at one of its ends through one of the casing heads, a gravity movable bellows head guided b said post and having a sound receiving 0' ambenopening at one side of said head, means for closing the open, side of said chamber and for connecting the other end of the flexible'bellows wall to said head, sound producing means through which the air is expelled from the bellows chamber into said sound receiving chamber in the movement of the head in one direction, and means for controllin the emission of sound from said chamber'tflro ugh the 0 en end of the tubular post in theair expel ing movement of said head.

6. A sound producing device comprising a post, a weight supportedby andmounted upon the post freely slidable therealong, a sound producing element, a bellows associated with the weight whereby movement of the weight will produce a flow of air for operating the sound producing element, a sound box comprised in the weight, and one wall of said sound box comprising a member which also serves to hold the weight connected with the bellows.

7. A sound producing device comprising a post, a weight supported by and mounted upon the post freely slidable therealong, a sound producing element carried by the weight, a sound box communicating with the sound producing element, a bellows connected with the weight, and means forming part of the sound box servin to hold the bellows connected with the weight.

8. In a sound producin device, a casing, an air chamber therein liaving a gravity movable weighty head provided with a sound receiving chamber, and an air confining element enga ed with the casing wall and with the marginal edge of said head, and said sound receiving chamber having a wall thereof provided with means coactlngwith said element and a part on said head to hold said wall in fixed relation thereto and also frictionally clamp said flexible element to efiect an air tight connection between said element and the head, and a sounding reed communicating with the air chamber and said Sound receiving chamber and through which the air is expelled into the latter chamber in the gravity movement of said, head in one direction.

9. In a sound producing device, an air chamber having a gravity movable weighty head provided with a sound receiving chamber, means for effecting an air tight seal between said head and said air chamber including an air confining element engaged with said head, and a wall of said sound receiving chamber having a part frictionally coacting with said element to secure said element and itself in connection with the weighty head, and a sounding reed communicating with said air chamber and said sound receiving chamber and operated by ill) the passage of air therethrough in the gravity movement of said head.

10. In a sound producing device, :1 casing, a reciprocal member therein, an annularly continuous air confining element engaged with'the casing wall andthe marginal edge of said member, said member having a sound receiving chamber and a wall of said sound receiving chamber and said member having parts frictionally coacting with said air confining element to eflect an air tight connection between said element and the reciprocal member and thereby also retaining said wall in fixed relation to said member, and a sounding reed communicating with said sound receiving chamber and operated by the passage of air therethrough in the reciprocation of said member.

11. In a sound producing device, a casing, a reciprocal member in said casing, an annularly continuous flexible element engaged with the marginal edge of said mem- I her and with the wall of the casing to prevent the passage of air therebetween, a sounding reed operated by the assa e of air therethrough in the reciprocation 0 said her and said means also retaining said part in fixed relation to said member.

12. A sound producing device comprising a tubular flexible bellows member fixed at one of its ends, a movable head for the other end of said bellows member adapted tor movement towards and from the fixed end thereof to collapse and distend the bellows, a sound producin element operated by said bellows, said hea having a sound receiving chamber which includes walls between which the end edge of said flexible member is interposed and frictionally clamped to effect an air tight connection between said flexible member and the head.

In testimon that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereunder.

LEO J. GRUBMAN.

the passage of air therethrough in the gravit v movement of said head.

10. In a sound producing device, a casing, a reciprocal member therein, an annularly continuous air confining element engaged with the casing wall and the marginal edge of said member, said member having a sound receiving chamber and a wall of said sound receiving chamber and said member having parts frictionally coacting with said air confining element to effect an air tight connection between said element and the reciprocal member and thereby also retaining said wall in fixed relation to said member, and a sounding reed communicating with said sound receiving chamber and operated by the passage of air therethrough in the reciprocation of said member.

11. In a sound producing device, a casing, a reciprocal member in said casing, an annularly continuous flexible element engaged with the marginal edge of said memher and with the wall of the casing to prevent the passage of air therebetween, a sounding reed operated by the passa e of air therethrough in the reciprocation 0 said member, and means controllin the emission of sound from the reed inc udin a part movable with said member an having means frictionally coacting with said ele ment to effect an air tight connection between the same and said reciprocal member and said means also retaining said part in fixed relation to said member.

12. A sound producing device comprising a tubular flexible bellows member fixed at one of its ends, a movable head for the other end of said bellows member ada ted for movement towards and from the Xed end thereof to collapse and distend the bellows, a sound producin element operated by said bellows, said hea having a sound receiving chamber which includes walls between which the end edge of said flexible member is interposed and frictionally clamped to efiect an air tight connection between said flexible member and the head. In testimon that I claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 have signed my name hereunder.

LEO J. GRUBMAN.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,588,356 granted June 8, 1926,

upon the application of Leo J. Grubman, of New York, N.

an error appears in the printed specification rein Sound-Producing Devices.

it, for an improvement quiring correction as follows: Page 3. line 14, claim 2, after the word chamber insert the words and a closure for one side of said chamber; and that the said Letters Patent should be read witlrthis correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 3d day of August, A. D. 1926.

[emu] M. J. MOORE, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction.

56, granted June 8, 1926,

It is hereby certified that in Letters Pntent No. 1,5883. upon the application of Leo J. Grill-Jinan, of New York N. Y., for an improvement in Sound-Producing Devices. an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3. line 14, claim 2, after the word chamber insert the Words and a closure for one side of said chamber; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with 'this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice. V

Signed and sealed this 3d day of August, A. D. 1996.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

